GAME DAY: New Jersey Devils @ Ottawa Senators - 7:30pm - Jan. 27th, 2009

TheAvatar wrote:I thought they were sitting schubert in the press box. How is that showcasing?

My mistake, I read the posts here as Smith was sitting for Schubert to play. I guess scoring the game winner last time gave Bell another start, but I have to say I'm really questioning these moves.

jamvan wrote:

TheAvatar wrote:I thought they were sitting schubert in the press box. How is that showcasing?

My mistake, I read the posts here as Smith was sitting for Schubert to play. I guess scoring the game winner last time gave Bell another start, but I have to say I'm really questioning these moves.

I think it's due mainly to wanting to keep Regin in the lineup, get a better look at him and not wanting to bench Bell after his game winner.

I'm fine with it. Actually I think it would have had more of an impact had they benched Phillips instead.

Sitting Smith isnt a bad idea. He doesnt bring much on the ice and my guess is they will try and deal him before or at the deadline. The type of game he plays is not needed in Ottawa and he clearly wasnt a solution in terms of getting the guys in the locker room to play consistant hockey with some sort of effort.

Bell has been better than Smith and Shubert all season, he deserves to play. The right moves have been made by Hartsberg.

marakh wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

marakh wrote:Hear don Team 1200 that Regin is IN, and Schubert back on D, one of Smith and Bell scratched.

Scratch Smith. Bell scored the game winner vs. Washington. What kind of message does that send? Besides with Volchie back, as someone else pointed out, we're too slow with Volchie, Smith and Phillips all in the lineup.

Mistake sorry,
Schubert stays on Offense because Volchie is back

So,
Volchie, Kuba
Philipps, Lee
Picard, Smith/Bell

FTW - It only took 4 months, but at least he finally did it!

Btw, it was me who was saying that we're too slow with those 3 and Kuba in the lineup... Picard isn't exactly the Flash either...

Apparently, sitting Smith was "shocking" to the Hockeycentral at Noon guys.

Got this in my inbox:

Anton Volchenkov will return to the Ottawa Senators lineup on Tuesday, but he will not be reunited with usual defensive partner Chris Phillips.

Via Sportsnet.

shabbs wrote:Got this in my inbox:

Anton Volchenkov will return to the Ottawa Senators lineup on Tuesday, but he will not be reunited with usual defensive partner Chris Phillips.

Via Sportsnet.

The first half formula clearly didn't work for the team. I guess this is all part of the experiment phase.

wprager wrote:Maybe there's a trade? Smith hasn't been playing badly. He's not quick and he's not an offensive contributor, but they didn't pay him $2.7M to score. Is he not performing in the toughness and leadership department? Perhaps. But then they should have at least given him the A.

Can't give a letter to a 5th-6th D-man who may not even be in the lineup on some nights.... That doesn't mean giving it to Heatley is the right move, either; but it just wasn't an option, I don't think.

shabbs wrote:Got this in my inbox:

Anton Volchenkov will return to the Ottawa Senators lineup on Tuesday, but he will not be reunited with usual defensive partner Chris Phillips.

Via Sportsnet.

Considering how well Lee has done being paired with Phillips coupled with easing Volchie back in I can't see anything wrong with that plan.

So, if we're sitting Smith, our D pairings are most likely:

Volchie, Kuba
Philipps, Lee
Picard, Bell

With Schubie available if anyone goes down.

shabbs wrote:So, if we're sitting Smith, our D pairings are most likely:

Volchie, Kuba
Philipps, Lee
Picard, Bell

With Schubie available if anyone goes down.

Here's hoping they don't see much of Parise.

asq2 wrote:

shabbs wrote:So, if we're sitting Smith, our D pairings are most likely:

Volchie, Kuba
Philipps, Lee
Picard, Bell

With Schubie available if anyone goes down.

Here's hoping they don't see much of Parise.

It's OK asq, I've already called no goals for Parise and Elias like I did with Semin and AO last game

TheAvatar wrote:I thought they were sitting schubert in the press box. How is that showcasing?

I'm getting confused now... it does seem that Schubie will be in the press box along with Smith.

http://www.ottawasun.com/Sports/Senators/2009/01/27/8162306.html

Regin being called up bounced Schubie out of the lineup.

I really hope they rock the Foligno-Regin-Fisher line again. Drop Ruutu back to play on the 4th with deaner and Neil. That gives us three pretty quick lines-

Heatley-Spezza-Alfredsson
Vermette-Kelly-Winchester
Fisher-Regin-Foligno
Ruutu-McAmmond-Neil

giddddy up.

anybody else going tonight?

Jordo wrote:I really hope they rock the Foligno-Regin-Fisher line again. Drop Ruutu back to play on the 4th with deaner and Neil. That gives us three pretty quick lines-

Heatley-Spezza-Alfredsson
Vermette-Kelly-Winchester
Fisher-Regin-Foligno
Ruutu-McAmmond-Neil

giddddy up.

anybody else going tonight?

I'm going. I don't remember what seats I'm in though.

cash wrote:

wprager wrote:Maybe there's a trade? Smith hasn't been playing badly. He's not quick and he's not an offensive contributor, but they didn't pay him $2.7M to score. Is he not performing in the toughness and leadership department? Perhaps. But then they should have at least given him the A.

Can't give a letter to a 5th-6th D-man who may not even be in the lineup on some nights.... That doesn't mean giving it to Heatley is the right move, either; but it just wasn't an option, I don't think.

Can't give $2.7M per either.

This game will definitely be a big test but I think the Real test will come against the BlueJackets on the road in the second of back to back games for the Sens.

1 - They suck on the road. Can they win on the road? St. Louis the night before will prove nothing.

2 - Can they pull off a win the next night against THE hottest goalie in the league?

wprager wrote:

cash wrote:

wprager wrote:Maybe there's a trade? Smith hasn't been playing badly. He's not quick and he's not an offensive contributor, but they didn't pay him $2.7M to score. Is he not performing in the toughness and leadership department? Perhaps. But then they should have at least given him the A.

Can't give a letter to a 5th-6th D-man who may not even be in the lineup on some nights.... That doesn't mean giving it to Heatley is the right move, either; but it just wasn't an option, I don't think.

Can't give $2.7M per either.

He is worth it if we had a playoff team. Ask Philly how good he was in the playoffs or Edmonton. Sure Philly didn't make it all the way last year but it wasn't for lack of contribution from Smith, he was a monster and his defence partner was not good throughout. Additionally he had very bad injuries he played through.

Hartsburg continually put him in a position in which it is tough to succeed. He is a guy who needs a challenge. 'Smitty, I don't want Crosby to score and he should never be standing in our zone. Make that happen.' He excels in that situation - playoff warrior, big game hard as nails MF, not in a 5/6th d role on a disorganized, disinterested club.